The Trump Plague

Trump cannot anything do about it so there are many "emergency teleconference" meetings all over the US to discuss the ongoing dance calendar issues caused by the worsening of the COVID-19 virus. This month has been a disaster in all states and especially the Republican states that have been lax on tests, masks and respect for social distance. Over the past weeks, as the national response to the growing pandemic has risen, many dance events have been canceled. Others have moved their dates further into the year. In the hope that the situation would resolve quickly, the dance organizations are trying to manage the dance calendar under difficult circumstances.

“Social dancers believe that if you don't give up your hopes and dreams,

then, there just may be a good ending,”

During this time with the situation changing almost daily, many events have been postponed and a great many have cancelled. As we have all seen, the problems for our country and our businesses are growing exponentially with the spread of the virus, and there is no end in sight. They had limits of 100 people and a week later it went down to 10 people. Now, as the thought that many thousands of people will die before the virus has run its course in the USA, we must do all we can to stay home. The circumstances change by the moment; we cannot know when we will be able to operate again.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

We do not know when the emergency regulations will be lifted, and we must take the situation very seriously. We are also entering a very serious situation in allowing the schools to open too soon. The Dance Organizations will assess the situation as it develops and when the way forward is clearer, will consider its recommendations. Meanwhile, we hope that you and your loved ones will remain safe through the dangerous period that follows, and that we will all come out on the other side healthy and ready to get back to dance again.

“Social dancers believe that winning doesn’t always mean being first.

Winning means we are doing better than we were doing before.”

 

 

We are still stuck

The latest spike in COVID-19 cases doesn't look good for opening dancing soon enough. Many of us are concerned about the high numbers of cases and many are worried about the schools opening too soon. Trump and DeVos instructions. They don't care that it is not just the kids and teachers but also the hundreds of others that they will contaminate. There have now been cases of over 100 in one day in Hawaii. Kauai and the Big Island are still clear. And there have been clusters on Oahu of Trumpanzees that don't wear masks. Ewa Beach, Aiea, Pearl City and Mililani. Auwe.

"Social dancers believe that life isn't full of darkness. Even if storms

come to pass, the sun will shine again."

Gov. Ige has assured the public the spike is manageable, and Hawaii still has adequate healthcare capacity. However, he is now proposing counties reinstate some measures in coordination with the State in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting social gatherings to 10 people or fewer. The exception would be controlled environments where safe practices are being followed and monitored. Second, re-close the bars. Third, work with counties to reinstate restrictions on gatherings in parks, consistent with the 10 or fewer people rule – although this time prohibiting structures like tents and bouncy houses.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

Lastly, re-evaluating guidelines issued for sports activities. We are all responsible for each other. Dancing? There are some dance studios with a "light" very nicely controlled covid 19 environment. Wash hands, masks, social distance and ten people or less. No clusters there so far. Keep the Trumpanzees out, you know da kine. "They got Rights" Nobody else got rights and they don't need masks. I try to keep them away from me and my friends.

"Social dancers believe that kind words may also be music of the world." 

 

 

We adjusting nicely

I am sure "everybody" knows "somebody" in this dance group: There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. Consequently, it wound up that Nobody told Anybody, so Everybody blamed Somebody. Everybody got that?

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

The important thing is not to stop questioning."

 ~ Albert Einstein

There are different opinions but generally in Hawaii 15% of the men do some dancing and 25% of the women do some dancing. Approximately 200 thousand dancers on Oahu and of course, not all are the same kind of dancers. Can we, as Social Dancers do something with this? For instance, watch our people during a line dance. 90% women. Seriously, the men would rather play baseball. I cannot do anything but perhaps social dancers as a group will think of something to equalize things for the benefit of all.

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" by Bruddah Iz

The Dance Studios have been important and will continue to be so. However there will some changes in the social dance clubs and the dance night clubs. Much more kokua than we have seen in the past. When many were disrespecting each other for not dancing the "correct" way. A definite division of "Young" night clubs and the ones for the more experienced dancers. Social dancers have been accepting a couple of line dances a part of the night's program. And if the DJ forgets a Paso Doble there may not be any complaints. A beautiful dance and in the syllabi of the International Style of Dance. A must for their people and understandable.

"Social dancers may find hope in the darkest of days,

and focus on the brightest that may be just ahead."

Changing Times

By Reginald Chang, Waipio:
Many of us believe that there have been changes in our dance world. And we realize that change has always been with us.The term "ballroom dancing" originates from the dancing in a ballroom, which was a large room specially designed for such dances. And ballrooms continued their existence until well past WWII. Then something slowly shrunk and most of us are well aware of this. In times past, ballroom dancing had dancing for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the lower classes. And there have always been the "lower classes." These boundaries in the last half of the 20th century have since become blurred,

“Social dancers never lose hope. Storms may make us
stronger and never last forever.”

The higher levels have always regarded the others as the "hoi polloi." This has been normal social behavior. Even though it should be noted that in times long gone, many ballroom dances were really elevated folk dances. Toward the latter half of the 17th century, Louis XIV founded his 'Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse. "Correct" rules for the execution of every dance and the "five positions" of the feet were formulated for the first time by members of the Académie. I believe they are still taught as part of International style of dance.

"Shores Of Haleiwa" by Loyal Garner

 
The Academie would continue to dominate ballroom from that time until the close of the 18th century. Eventually, the first definite cleavage between ballet and ballroom came when professional dancers appeared in the ballets, and the ballets left the Court. They went to the stage and developed a large "spectator" division. Ballet technique such as the turned out positions of the feet, however, lingered for over two centuries and past the end of the Victorian era. And they developed their own rules of the "correct" way to dance ballet which in turn inspired the spin off of the Modern Dance style.

"The future belongs to those of us who believe

in the beauty of our dreams."
 

Luis Miguel

Luis Miguel super-stardom began in the late 1980s, but in 1991, his career went to even greater heights and earned him the respect of a wider audience with the release of Romance, an album of romantic boleros, most of them oldies from the 1940s and 1950s.

"Dancing is the World’s Second Most Popular Indoor Sport."

Despite singing boleros from years past, Luis Miguel has also been recognized for reinventing the bolero into pop mode for modern audiences.The album Romance, which became his most successful material ever, eventually sold 15 million units worldwide.

"El Reloj" por Luis Miguel

Luis Miguel has performed successfully pop music, bolero, mariachi and romantic ballads.. Best known for his technically skilled and smooth crooning vocals. He has won four Latin Grammy Awards, five Grammy Awards, and has sold an estimated 100 million albums.

"Sabor A Mi" por Luis Miguel

His most famous event was his tour of the US in the 90s, where he took all his good friends. They made millions of dollars in salaries from the Corporate Income, all expenses paid, and a one year vacation for all. "El Concierto" was made into a composite DVD of all the shows and made millions in sales there too.

He is known in Latin America and Spain as "El Sol de México" (The Sun of Mexico) For decades he has been linked to various women in the US and Latin America but he has never married. He has several children and the latest two with the famous singer Aracely Arambulo. Rumors are that he is still playing the field. On the right from the cover of the magazine, Hola.

“Social dancers believe that there is nothing like a dream to create the future.”

Social Dancing?

Eventually many of us dancers in the disciplines find that it's okay to break out of that box we have been dancing in. The box is just fine and if others want to be Competition Dancers, no hu hu. There are many good solid reasons for that type of dance. Furthermore in that type of dance they are judged by the same rules. Sounds fair enough to most of us. But it is a different type from our kind of dancing, - just to be free to follow our hearts, our emotions, and our feet in social partner dancing. It is not new, this type of freedom may have been happening for centuries.

“Social dancers believe that it may be stupid to hope,

but sometimes hope is the only thing we got.”

On Oahu it has gone from "Most" before WWII, to slightly less after. Then the American style came in the fifties and Social dancing began it's long descent down in popularity. The challenges remained there for the dancers to broaden their love of dance.  To incorporate many different dance styles in order to embody all the sounds and rhythms the music has to offer. When was the last time you did a cross body lead in the Waltz? Whether blues, tango, swing, west coast swing, salsa, pop, hip-hop, trip-hop, or music that incorporates sounds from all these genres and more. Every dancer is continually challenged to "dance outside the box."

"Molokai Waltz" by Amy Hanaialli Gilliom

They can use their dance backgrounds and lessons learned in classes to break down barriers and understand that they can dance to practically anything. It is a celebration of individual expression, and sharing that experience with others through social dance. Oahu dancers generally, had not accept much of this. But something happened within a few years of the Palladium Opening. Let's face it, many of our American Style Dance instructors know their dancing and had been applying many of these new principles for years. They had few disciplinary taboos and could go with their own gut opinions. And we have the results with some the best dancers anywhere.

"The best of things in life is to learn. You can lose money, health or property

but what you have committed your mind to is yours forever."

Dance 2020

The standard dances are the ones that will be playing on Oahu in the near future. And what are the standard dances? We, the social dancers, will determine that and develop our own syllabi. A few of the dances in the American and International are being phased out now. When was the last time you dropped into a night club for a little Paso Doble? Beautiful dance? Of course. The group of dances will involve into the recreational, cultural dance. The Pau Hana dance is coming, because of the increased traffic, instead of a Happy Hour. The Pau Hana Dance will have less drink, more dancing and more talk story with friends and relaxation in the middle of the week than any other form of entertainment.

“Social dancers believe that the future is uncertain,
but that just may be a good thing.”

The music will not be played, incessantly non stop as it has been done in many places for so long. Music inherently depends on silence in some form or another to distinguish other periods of sound and allow dynamics, melodies and rhythms to have greater impact. The is one of the reasons Live Music is so pleasant, between songs and the Intermission. Very nicely accepted by the most experienced dancers. Most music scores feature rests denoting periods of silence. Accomplished composers don't take all their best ideas and muddy the listener's experience by rattling on and on.

"Music Of Hawaii" by Melveen Leed

These artists know how to communicate their ideas clearly. Listen to the space between the phrases. Listen to how silence is used as a color, and not simply as the lifeless backdrop of compositions. Silence, when used effectively, is a color.There will gradually be the acceptance of silence of 30 second intervals or more, which will be a welcomed respite for all. The same as the old days when the band had a little time between tunes and we had a time for a little relaxation. The non-stop can be nice for the kids, let them enjoy theirs.

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us.
And the world will live as one.” ― John Lennon

Dance 2020

The standard dances are the ones that will be playing on Oahu in the near future. And what are the standard dances? We, the social dancers, will determine that and develop our own syllabi. A few of the dances in the American and International are being phased out now. When was the last time you dropped into a night club for a little Paso Doble? Beautiful dance? Of course. The group of dances will involve into the recreational, cultural dance. The Pau Hana dance is coming, because of the increased traffic, instead of a Happy Hour. The Pau Hana Dance will have less drink, more dancing and more talk story with friends and relaxation in the middle of the week than any other form of entertainment.

“Social dancers believe that the future is uncertain,
but that just may be a good thing.”

The music will not be played, incessantly non stop as it has been done in many places for so long. Music inherently depends on silence in some form or another to distinguish other periods of sound and allow dynamics, melodies and rhythms to have greater impact. The is one of the reasons Live Music is so pleasant, between songs and the Intermission. Very nicely accepted by the most experienced dancers. Most music scores feature rests denoting periods of silence. Accomplished composers don't take all their best ideas and muddy the listener's experience by rattling on and on.

"Music Of Hawaii" by Melveen Leed

These artists know how to communicate their ideas clearly. Listen to the space between the phrases. Listen to how silence is used as a color, and not simply as the lifeless backdrop of compositions. Silence, when used effectively, is a color.There will gradually be the acceptance of silence of 30 second intervals or more, which will be a welcomed respite for all. The same as the old days when the band had a little time between tunes and we had a time for a little relaxation. The non-stop can be nice for the kids, let them enjoy theirs.

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us.
And the world will live as one.” ― John Lennon

Age Makes A Difference

Dances can be classified into three categories that not very many people go into. There are not many that can define their particular dance into one of these categories, - the Fad, Novelty and the Standard dances. And these dances generally adhere to an age level. The Fads are usually with the younger (under thirty), the Novelty with the slightly older and the Standard with the over forty, Fad dances are usually picked up by the younger folk who can get interested very easily, into anything never done before. These were also called "dance crazes."

“Social dancers believe they should be faithful in the small things
they do because it is in them that their strength lies.”

At one time some fad dances lasted a full decade. In the early part of the last century, you could have a new one every month. Dancing style fads have for some centuries been a part of social dancing. Sometimes gliding smoothly into tradition after their "newness" has faded, and sometimes simply fading away into oblivion, as other new fads would appear. This has happened even before the evolving partner dances set in and will continue in the future. The Novelty dances would usually last a little longer but also eventually died down as other dances would appear.

"The Music Of Hawaii" by Melveen Leed

However, many novelty dances have remained even after they have become obsolete. How about the Polka? Just good fun. How about the Twist? Still around now and then. I expect the "Macarena" to surface one of these days. Our Dance world! Then the very good ones remain on much more solid ground. The decisions are made by older people with some decades of dancing experience. These "Standards" have also been helped along by the disciplines, though some still carry dances that are now clearly obsolete in recreational dancing. Viennese Waltz, terrific, beautiful back in the day of the Big Bands and the Big Ballrooms. This is the 21st century.

"Social dancers believe that no great dancer ever complained
of want of opportunities."

New Dance World

All men are not created equal and it should be obvious to all that we are creatures of hierarchies. In the Western World, we usually assign everything a place, a pigeon hole, a niche. It makes us feel better, secure in our place. We may learn when growing up that we should be equal, but soon realize that in different skills, we do not stay that way for long. Some are born poor and move up. Some are born rich and may go down.

"It may be quite simple, for social dancers, hope is what keep them alive.”

In some cultures this is all done and recognized but it is not mentioned publicly. In the US, you can read much of it in our dance Web and Blog sites. Social dancing may not be so different. Presumably we all start as beginners, but shortly thereafter we begin to differentiate. Dancing for the gifted few may becomes an art. And fortunately, social dancing is also a craft and a game. It is one that can be learned, sometimes by hard work and practice which depends largely on interest and commitment. Are we having any fun?

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

It should be fun along the way There several way to promote a dance organization's services and products. There has always been advertising, newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Then some groups had Newsletters which were good public relations and usually had the input of several people. Then about 30 years ago arrived the Web and Blog sites. The benefits are many. They keep the organization's Name out in front of potential and current members, the media and Ballroom Dance Professionals. It may be the least expensive and productive PR.

"Those who venture to criticize us may perform a remarkable act of friendship,

if not undertaken to wound or offend”

Review

This has been also a good time to review the differences that have existed in our dance sphere. When I first got here it was American Style dancing and I went for it hook, line and sinker. I quickly found out that we had a terrific bunch of "amateur" teachers that were just as good any other kind. I learned it very nicely and was able to lead in a reasonable if not a terrific manner. Later on when the International became more established I moved into that. The general attitude of the teachers was to learn your American first and then aspire to International.

“Social dancers may believe that while the heart beats,

hope lingers and we shall dance again.”

This attitude put International automatically on a higher plane than American. International was taught for competition and that naturally brought out their "best dancers." At the same time they developed some beautiful exhibition dances. And the movements they taught were "correct" according to their style, Stands to reason. After the Palladium was built, the bulk of the clubs aspired to dance at the "Ala Wai Palladium" and there was an increase of the "lower classes" attending these dances including the "street" or "social" dancers.

"Molokai Waltz" by Amy Hanaialii Gideon

The Internationals with "real" ballroom dancers emerged on top. Their "correct" no longer had any qualifications. After all they danced in ballrooms.The American style was nice and they could progress to a higher plane. American style was danced in Malls, School Cafeterias, Community Centers and District Parks. Then to help matters, two new terms evolved. The "Ala Wai dancer" and the "Junk Dancer." Mainly applied to the social and night club dancers but it could overlap to the American Style dancers. And the preferred location of the higher classes became the dinner/dance socials in the Waikiki Hotel Ballrooms.

"The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well."

~ Henry W. Longfellow

Just Around The Corner

Info from their Website: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, HBDA classes and events are suspended through September 30, 2020. HBDA accepts registration online; however the registration website is temporarily suspended until they reopen for classes. Stay Tuned. Their mission “To provide a ballroom dance experience for the people of Hawaii that is fun, affordable, and promotes healthy minds and bodies.” You can tell they are thinking in favor of the good of their students, members and teachers.

“Many social dancers believe that they got more yesterday than

most anybody. What they need is a nice kind of tomorrow.” 

To our readers, I would like to remind them of the Web Site, Dance Fever Oahu, they may not have much up to date information for now but they will have soon. And they are very likely to have much dance information not available to us. By the same token we will also have Frank's blogs which will come alive soon too. Same reason to tune in, he has many connections and will have much information not available to us. Tune in. Most dance blogs are still personal accounts of one person’s dance experience. And our reader/dancers on Oahu will be the best informed dancers in the Pacific.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

I intend to make our blogs, the personal views and experience of as many of our reader/dancers as possible. If you use a browser, you will find many dance blogs and it can give you a good idea of what we can do in our blogs. Practically everyone is a blog reader today and, if you are breathing, you will have a web presence on at least one social network such as Twitter or Facebook. But, maybe you are thinking about expanding and improving the value of that presence in a blog. Think it over, the ultimate in Feedback.

"A blog is merely a tool that will let us do anything from 

changing our dance world to just sharing our bits

of dance information and a photo or two."

Street Dancing 101

The Walking Step is the most basic of all and which has at least a dozen different names depending the level of teaching. And the higher the level, the more complicated the instructions. As one should suspect it is just left, right, left, right and so on. These were the first steps that were done to drum rhythms and music in every culture when agriculture set in 10 thousand years ago. The best example of primitive walking steps are the videos of present day African dancers, in which they are just jumping up and down and enjoying their music, left, right, left, right and so on,

“If the past is made out of facts ... Social dancers can guess that the future is just hope.” 

Anyone can learn fast and enjoy a Foxtrot, left, right, left right to the four count and then do the same in the next measure. The only differences are in the styling which simply means the different moves of the feet, knees, hips, shoulders, head and maybe even the nose. You don't want to move any of it? It's up to you. Nobody gonna tell you what to dance. You move to the music like you feel it, just let it. You can do the same in a Waltz, left, right, left, in one measure and then right, left. right, in the next measure, but you are still using the walking step.

"My Molokai Woman" by Willie K

And you will let your body lead you according to the music and your fellow dancers. Waltz and Foxtrot have different stylings and Waltz has a three count. And of course you can get fancy. In the Merengue, you have a very definite body style, but it is still, left, right, left, right and more sideways to a 2 or a 4 count. The original Milonga was with a walking step and had a pounce at the end of eight counts because it was a "Cat" dance. So for the men who lead, there you have several dances to start with that you just walk to the music. And you usually start with you left foot. Hell, its a start.

“Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.

Not Too Bad

No one on Oahu knows for sure when the Trump Plague will end. We had a little set back when we opened but it may be getting back on track. Hawaii is doing better than most states. What we do know is that our dance world will be an entirely new one on the other side when we get going again. Reshaped by weeks of staying home with a very minimum of dance, a little music and a little wiggling around. It has also been a period in which we have been going through some uncomfortable physical, emotional and financial pains. We will not come out of this unscathed and it may not be pretty for some.

“Social dancers think that it may be better to have an

abundance of hope than an absence of faith.”

But it could be a chance to reimagine the dance world as we have known it. In many ways, we'll have to start from scratch. For one thing the Night Clubs seem to be starting first and of course it's the money, nothing unnatural about that. So why not learn from this moment and rebuild our community on a stronger foundation? The second group coming in will be the Dance Studios. Why not use this opportunity to enact the desires, the dreams, the radical changes that we haven't been bold enough to voice before? Our social dance clubs can take their time to fit in nicely to this.

"Sweet Someone" by Don Ho

We could reevaluate the systems and structures we've long seen as immutable. Do we want to radically reimagine our dance world? For now, we can make sure there is testing beforehand if we have any suspicions. Upon entering we can accept temperature taking, wear our masks and respect social distance. We will encourage any dancers to stay away if they don't feel well and spectators are being asked not to enter the places of dance so that only the customers and/or teachers are coming and going. Hand sanitizer must be used on entry and exit of the dance locations. We will have a different dance world for awhile. New Zealand is now free, but will not accept outside visitors yet.

"Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell."

The New Social

The very young may say, "I can just jump around with the music." What's the difference? It is quite natural, wanting to move to music and it has been going around the world in different forms and terminologies. The difference is – that is not social dancing, my friend. That is a “I don’t need dance lessons” vulnerability or “I know what I’m doing” - fear of failing. It was very prominent in night clubs in the last century on Oahu and morphing into "street dancing." Sure, at some moments that may be the only thing that kids want to do.

“Social dancers believe that there is nothing like a dream

to create a future and we shall dance again.”

But you cannot call "jumping around" social dancing, that is why its called "jumping around," Nowadays in night clubs it is social dancing. Trust us, at least once in your life there will be that something or someone who would love to share that special dance with you - it would be nice if you were ready! And social dancing is separating from discipline dancing. In the last century at the beginning of the "Palladium" the disciplines created the term. "Junk Dancer" for the social dancers. At the start of the century many might lower their heads a little they would "admit" that they were social dancers.

"I Will Dance For You" by Willie K.

The Ladertas, Mother's Day

But now in this century the Social Dancers have come into their own and take a little more pride in saying they are a "Social Dancers." Many dance clubs have formed with many different good teachers in the American style of dance. All have had slightly different interpretations of the movements to the music. And all of it has been accepted in good faith. Most socials include music that is not in the syllabi of any of the disciplines. You may go to a Social where they might play three Bachatas and one or no Paso Doble. They play Tango and there may be three different dances, Filipino, American and International styles. Sometimes even Argentine. How about that? This is Social Dancing.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God,

which is why we call it the present.”

The New Social

The very young may say, "I can just jump around with the music." What's the difference? It is quite natural, wanting to move to music and it has been going around the world in different forms and terminologies. The difference is – that is not social dancing, my friend. That is a “I don’t need dance lessons” vulnerability or “I know what I’m doing” - fear of failing. It was very prominent in night clubs in the last century on Oahu and morphing into "street dancing." Sure, at some moments that may be the only thing that kids want to do.

“Social dancers believe that there is nothing like a dream

to create a future and we shall dance again.”

But you cannot call "jumping around" social dancing, that is why its called "jumping around," Nowadays in night clubs it is social dancing. Trust us, at least once in your life there will be that something or someone who would love to share that special dance with you - it would be nice if you were ready! And social dancing is separating from discipline dancing. In the last century at the beginning of the "Palladium" the disciplines created the term. "Junk Dancer" for the social dancers. At the start of the century many might lower their heads a little they would "admit" that they were social dancers.

"I Will Dance For You" by Willie K.

The Ladertas, Mother's Day

But now in this century the Social Dancers have come into their own and take a little more pride in saying they are a "Social Dancers." Many dance clubs have formed with many different good teachers in the American style of dance. All have had slightly different interpretations of the movements to the music. And all of it has been accepted in good faith. Most socials include music that is not in the syllabi of any of the disciplines. You may go to a Social where they might play three Bachatas and one or no Paso Doble. They play Tango and there may be three different dances, Filipino, American and International styles. Sometimes even Argentine. How about that? This is Social Dancing.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God,

which is why we call it the present.”

Pen Name

Any news and photos in our blog will be noted with your name. Anonymous is unacceptable. However you may use a Pen Name. There are many examples of famous authors using pen names. A pen name becomes a sort of shield, allowing the author to conceal his or her identity, shake off any pre-conceived notions, internal or external, and to write freely in the genre of his or her choice. As a general rule, most authors should publish under their legal, given name.

“Yesterday is but a dream, Tomorrow is only a vision. But today

 well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

Otherwise our reader/dancers tend to accept a pen name without question. It may make promotion a little difficult. There have been people that find choosing a pseudonym to be a creative process, and many writers find selecting a pen name more difficult that naming a character. A pen name should be unique. Research the internet and bookselling sites. Avoid any name already used by a writer, since that is likely to confuse readers. Many of us on Oahu may find it simple and easy. Most us will not find it necessary.

"The Music Of Hawaii" by Melveen Leed.

Do not use the name of anyone famous.  If you use the name of registered trademarks, you risk getting a cease-and-desist letter. You can search for available domain names, because you want to buy a domain for your pen name.Try to avoid using the name of a real person. If you happen to use the name of a real person, you are not committing identity theft. Identity theft involves intentionally acts to impersonate someone for financial gain. My Pen Name on Facebook is Jeb Martin, just for the sport. And you think your way is the only way? Ha!

"Social dancers believe that music is what life should sound like."